The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1887-02-26
A QUESTION OF RATES.

The various railroad companies
and traffic associations of the
country are now busily at work
trying TO adjust theirrates and bus
mess to meet the requirements of
the Interstate commerce law. We
are of the opinion that the bill
pleases the railroad companies bet
ter than they are willing to confess.
They think that by raising howl
against it, and announcing with all
earnestness that it will bankrupt
them, sufficiently large number
of the people will sympathize with
them and gradually become con-
WINGED that the railroads are mar
tyrs, and thus check any more lcgis-
lation on the subject. That there
are abuses no one will deny; that
the present law will correct them
in justice to both consumer and
carrier we very seriously doubt. A
law which leaves the endless differ
ences which will arise to a commits
sion of five men, whose duties ex-
tend throughout the entire country
when any State in the Union could
command their whole attention, is
simply farce. The highest judi
cial authority in the country has
decided that Congress can give
State courts jurisdiction in ques-
tons that would arise under this
act. Then why not have these cases
settled in the locality in which they
arise, instead of before bought up
or prejudiced commission ? The
answer is easy-it would be giving
the poor man a chance. But they
say "You can appeal from the COM
mission to the Federal COURT" Yes,
probably you can, but you can also
rest assured that where it takes one
dollar to carry on case in the low
er court it twill take ten in the Fed
eral court. There is only one way
in which the law will prove effec-
tive, and that is for the railroads to
voluntarily meet every requirement
and rigidly enforce them. But as
no two persons can agree on all the
provisions of the act, there is not !
much hope.
How it will affect the rates given
to Caldwell is a matter of conjec-
ture and considerable Importance.
If the theory of the trainers of the
bill-that terminal,towns are being
built at the expense of towns along
The line-is good, then we need not
expect any increase in rates. A
representative of the U. p. says:
"Our instructions are to make no
positive guarantee of current rates
beyond March 22d next. 1t is not
likely that any change will be made
in the present rates until the COM
merce bill becomes operative. What
the rates will be after that date no
one can give any definite idea at
present. The California and Pacific
coast rates will no doubt be aban-
doned to figures based on the high
err rates to the Territories, and as
the local rates to Utah, Nevada,
Arizona, Idaho and the Territories
contingent to the Pacific coast are
higher than Sam Francisco rates,
and as the tonnage and revenue
from such business is much greater
than that to the Pacific coast points,
it is very natural that instead of re-
ducing the rates to such Territories |
to the basis of Pacific coast rates,
which would entail serious loss of
revenue, the Pacific rates are likely
to be framed on basis of the local
figures, as the consequent loss of
business in their advance would not
be considerable. If the Interstate
bill be strictly enforced and no ex-
ception made it will rebound great
" to the interest of the water routes
including the Pacific Mail and Can
adian Pacific Railway as they will
not be affected by its provisions"